Man Killed In Hang Gliding Accident
Posted August 4, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Police say 44-year-old James Freer was practicing his sport when it all went terribly wrong. As he sailed in the skies near Highway 7 and Brock Road, the Niagara Falls resident suddenly hit some hydro wires at a high rate of speed.
His death was agonizing for those who watched helplessly as crews struggled to reach him.
“The male was apparently on fire and in some distress,” explains Durham Police Sgt. Paul McCurbin. “The firefighters were called and emergency units attended and after some trying they were able to turn the power off and get the male down.”
Freer was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was attending the Perspective Hang Gliding & Paragliding School in Pickering and the accident happened right beside the campus.
The tragedy knocked out power to a large area and hydro crews were forced to keep the plug pulled as they made repairs.
The tragic mishap led authorities to close the busy highway between Green River and Brougham for part of the afternoon getaway.
